Introduction

Regression testing is a sort of software testing that looks for new flaws in functionality that already exists. A regression test is basically any kind of test that verifies the correctness of previously completed work. In other words, it’s a check to make sure that changes haven’t broken anything that was working before.

There are many different ways to approach regression testing, and the approach you take will likely depend on the size and complexity of your project. In this blog post, we will explore one particular regression testing framework in detail. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about setting up and using this framework to streamline your regression testing process.

What Is Regression Testing?

Regression testing is a type of software testing that verifies that software that was previously working properly still works as expected after it has been changed or updated. This type of testing is usually done after changes have been made to the code, and it is intended to confirm that the changes did not break any existing functionality.

There are many different ways to approach regression testing, but one common method is to create a regression test suite, which is a collection of tests that can be run together in order to verify the correct functioning of the software. Another common approach is to use automation to run regression tests, which can help to speed up the process and ensure that all tests are run correctly.

Whatever approach is used, regression testing is an important part of software development and should be given careful consideration in order to ensure that software continues to work correctly after changes have been made.

Why Is Regression Testing Important?

Regression testing is a process of running tests on an application to ensure that changes or additions to the code have not adversely affected its functionality. It is important to test after making changes to code because it verifies that the changes work as expected and have not caused any unintended consequences.

Regression testing can be time-consuming, but it is essential to maintaining the quality of an application. By ensuring that code changes do not break existing functionality, regression testing helps avoid costly and time-consuming issues down the road.

Types of Regression Testing

In regression testing, we retest the functionality of a software application to verify that changes or additions have not caused new bugs. Regression tests can be performed manually or through automation.

Regression testing can be divided into four types:

1. Functional Regression Testing: This type of regression testing focuses on the functionality of the software application. We test to ensure that all features are working as expected after a change has been made.
2. Performance Regression Testing: This type of regression testing measures the performance of the software application before and after a change has been made. We want to ensure that the changes have not impacted the performance negatively.
3. Usability Regression Testing: This type of regression testing assesses the usability of the software application after a change has been made. We want to make sure that users can still use the software easily and effectively after a change has been made.
4. Security Regression Testing: This type of regression testing focuses on the security of the software application after a change has been made. We want to ensure that security vulnerabilities have not been introduced with the new code or changes.

Recommended to Read – Ultimate Guide to Regression Testing Guidelines

When to Perform Regression Testing?

As a user, you may want to know when regression testing should be performed. The answer to this question is not always clear-cut and may vary depending on the development process. In general, regression testing should be done:

• After making changes to the code base
• After changing the environment
• When new functionality is added
• When defects are fixed
• Prior to the release
• On a regular basis

How to Perform Regression Testing?

Regression testing is a type of software testing that verifies that software that was previously working correctly still works after being changed or updated. A regression test suite is a set of tests that are run whenever a change is made to the software to make sure that no new bugs have been introduced and that existing functionality has not been broken.

There are many different ways to perform regression testing, but some common methods include re-running previously completed tests, running sanity checks, and comparing output from new runs with saved outputs from previous runs.

When changes are made to the code, it is important to re-run any tests that could be affected by those changes. This helps to verify that the changes have not introduced any new bugs and that existing functionality has not been broken.

Sanity testing is another common method of regression testing. This involves running a small number of key tests to verify that the most important functions of the software are still working correctly. This can be done manually or with automated tools.

Comparing the output from new runs with saved outputs from previous runs is another way to regression test software. This can be done manually or with specialized tools that compare results automatically. This method can help catch subtle changes in behavior that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Tools for Regression Testing

There are various tools available for regression testing which can be broadly classified into two categories – open-source and commercial.

Some of the popular open-source tools are:

Selenium: Selenium is a widely used open-source tool for web application automation. It can be used to automate functional and regression tests for web applications.

HP QuickTest Professional (QTP): QTP is an automated functional testing tool developed by HP. It can be used to record and playback test scripts for web as well as desktop applications.

IBM Rational Functional Tester (RFT): RFT is an automated functional testing tool developed by IBM. It supports testing of various application types such as web, Java, .NET, etc.

Commercial tools are:

Telerik Test Studio: Telerik Test Studio is a powerful yet easy-to-use suite of software testing tools from Telerik. It offers support for various test types such as functional, regression, load, etc., and also provides a rich set of features for test management and collaboration.

Recommended to Read:- Top Test Automation Tools 2023

Challenges In Regression Testing

As regression testing is a time-consuming process, organizations often face challenges in performing regression testing. Here are some of the typical challenges:

1. Selection of Test Cases: As the regression test suite contains all the test cases that were run during the previous release cycle, it is often difficult to select the right set of test cases to be executed in the current release cycle. This challenge can be addressed by using a risk-based approach for selecting test cases for regression testing.
2. Execution of Test Cases: The regression test suite is usually large and often contains hundreds or even thousands of test cases. Executing all these test cases within the available time window can be challenging. This challenge can be addressed by using automated testing tools and optimizing the test execution process.
3. Maintenance of Regression Test Suite: Maintaining a large regression test suite can be another challenge faced by organizations. This can be addressed by maintaining only those test cases that are relevant to the current release and deleting the obsolete ones.

Best Practices for Regression Testing

When it comes to regression testing, there are a few best practices that can make all the difference in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Here are some essential considerations:

1. Prioritize Your Tests

Not all tests are created equal. There will always be some tests that are more critical than others in terms of identifying potential regressions. It’s important to prioritize these tests so that you can focus your efforts on the most important ones.

2. Automate Where Possible

Regression testing can be a time-consuming process, so automating as much of it as possible can be a huge help. Look for ways to automate repetitive tasks so that you can spend more time on other aspects of the testing process.

3. Use a Regression Testing Tool

There are many different regression testing tools available on the market today. Using one of these tools can help to streamline the process and make it more efficient. Be sure to do your research to find the tool that best suits your needs.

4. Define Clear Pass/Fail Criteria

Before starting any regression test, it’s important to define clear pass/fail criteria. This will help to ensure that you’re properly evaluating the results of the test and avoiding false positives or negatives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a regression testing framework is a powerful tool that can help improve the efficiency of your software development process. By automating the execution of regression tests, you can save time and resources while ensuring that your software meets the highest quality standards.

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